Integrated polymer and metal case ammunition manufacturing system and method

Abstract

A fully automated, integrated, end-to-end synchronized and compact manufacturing system produces polymer or metal case ammunition. Manufacturing stations support case assembly, sealing (gluing / welding), final product inspection, cartridge packaging or binning, and loading. Station modularity facilitates rapid changeover to accommodate ammunition of differing calibers. Sensors and apparatus may be provided to place a manufacturing cell in a wait state until all components or materials are received in a preferred orientation for proper assembly. The system may join and use multipart cases, each including a lower portion with a head end attached thereto and at least one upper portion having a necked-down transition to the open top end. Elevator feeders, vibratory bowl feeders, and robotic pick-and-place feeders may be used to deliver components for assembly.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates generally to polymer- or plastic-cased and also metal cased ammunition and, in particular, to an integrated system and method to manufacture such ammunition.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Ammunition manufacturing automation dates back over 100 years. The principal manufacturing machines are called “Loaders” or Ammunition Loaders. Current generation models include the Mark L, X, and LP from Ammo Load Worldwide, the inline ammunition loader from Advanced Engineering Systems, and various ammunition loader models from Camdex Automatic Ammunition Systems. Generally these machines are fed by two rotary bowl feeders that feed oriented metal (brass, nickel or steel) cases and bullets or balls. Cases are fed into a linear production line first and then primers feed into the machine through straw-like tubes or magazines and are pressed into the cases. The primer case is then filled with propellant fed from an overhead canister or jar, ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a fully automated system for making ammunition cases. The system integrates several production processes, including assembly, sealing, inspection, and packaging. It is compact and synchronized, meaning all the different parts work together smoothly. The system also has modular stations that can be easily changed to make different types of ammunition. The technical effect of this patent is an efficient, flexible, and automated process for producing ammunition cases.

Problems solved by technology

This machine stages the assembly process along a cam driven linear set of stages, but does not disclose the operational feeders.

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